Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology, and Bioterrorism (California Studies in Food and Culture, 5)

Food safety is a matter of intense public concern, and for good reason. Millions of annual cases of food "poisonings" raise alarm not only about the food served in restaurants and fast-food outlets but also about foods bought in supermarkets. The introduction of genetically modified foods--immediately dubbed "Frankenfoods"--only adds to the general sense of unease. Finally, the events of September 11, 2001, heightened fears by exposing the vulnerability of food and water supplies to attacks by bioterrorists. How concerned should we be about such problems? Who is responsible for preventing them? Who benefits from ignoring them? Who decides? Marion Nestle, author of the critically acclaimed Food Politics, argues that ensuring safe food involves more than washing hands or cooking food to higher temperatures. It involves politics. When it comes to food safety, billions of dollars are at stake, and industry, government, and consumers collide over issues of values, economics, and political power--and not always in the public interest. Although the debates may appear to be about science, Nestle maintains that they really are about control: Who decides when a food is safe? She demonstrates how powerful food industries oppose safety regulations, deny accountability, and blame consumers when something goes wrong, and how century-old laws for ensuring food safety no longer protect our food supply. Accessible, informed, and even-handed, Safe Food is for anyone who cares how food is produced and wants to know more about the real issues underlying today's headlines. Marion Nestle, Author Of The Critically Acclaimed Food Politics, Argues That Ensuring Safe Food Involves More Than Washing Hands Or Cooking Food To Higher Temperatures. It Involves Politics. When It Comes To Food Safety, Billions Of Dollars Are At Stake, And Industry, Government, And Consumers Collide Over Issues Of Values, Economics, And Political Power - And Not Always In The Public Interest. She Demonstrates How Powerful Food Industries Oppose Safety Regulations, Deny Accountability, And Blame Consumers When Something Goes Wrong, And How Century-old Laws For Ensuring Food Safety No Longer Protect Our Food Supply. She Draws On Three Examples: Microbial Contamination Of Meat And Poultry, Genetically Modified Ingredients In Supermarket Products, And Newly Emerging Hazards - Bioterrorism Among Them. If As She Says, Food Safety Is A Matter Of Politics, Then Problems Of Food Safety Require Political Solutions. Ensuring Safe Food Requires Government And Industry To Act More In The Public Interest, And Consumers To Exert Democratic Rights As Citizens To Make Sure That They Do. Accessible, Informed, And Even-handed, Safe Food Is For Anyone For Cares How Food Is Produced And Wants To Know More About The Real Issues Underlying Today's Headlines. It Should Be Of Interest To Everyone Who Eats And Wants Food To Be Safe - From General Readers To Students, Farmers, Scientists, And Anyone Connected With The Food Industry Or Government.--jacket. Introduction : Food Safety Is Political -- Part One. Resisting Food Safety. 1. The Politics Of Foodborne Illness : Issues And Origins -- 2. Resisting Meat And Poultry Regulation, 1974-1994 -- 3. Attempting Control Of Food Pathogens, 1994-2002 -- 4. Achieving Safe Food : Alternatives -- Part Two. Safety As A Surrogate : The Ironic Politics Of Food Biotechnology. 5. Peddling Dreams : Promises Versus Reality -- 6. Risks And Benefits : Who Decides? -- 7. The Politics Of Government Oversight -- 8. The Politics Of Consumer Concern : Distrust, Dread, And Outrage -- Conclusion : The Future Of Food Safety : Public Health Versus Bioterrorism. Marion Nestle. Includes Index. Notes: P. 283-326. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 283-326) And Index. FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, KNOWING THAT I WAS WRITING about harmful bacteria in food, wondered why anyone would care about things so invisible, tasteless, unpronounceable, and, for the most part, innocuous. Tackles the contentious issue of food safety in America, exploring the role of "Frankenfoods" and rampant reports of food poisonings on the overall perception that food is safe to eat.